Chinese Checkers — Strategy

Filling the goal

Depth

Go deep into the goal: the first marbles to the tip, the next ones closer to the edge. A marble that stops at the entrance blocks the way for the rest.

No way out of the goal

A marble in the goal moves only inside it. A "wrong hole" mistake is costly to fix later: think about how all ten will fit.

An opponent's marble in the goal

If an opponent has left a marble in your goal, no harm done: you have finished when all the holes of the goal are filled and at least one marble is yours. You can even jump over their marble.

Counting at the limit

At the game limit places are decided by marbles in the goal, and on a tie by who is closer to it. If the game is heading for the limit, count not only the marbles already in, but also bring up the ones lagging behind.